Aluminum door construction



Feb E8, 1958 v E. ANDERSCDN ALUMINUM DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 28, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

vlo'roh E. ANDERSON BY WWW/M ATTORNEYS United States Patent ALUMINUM DOOR CONSTRUCTION Victor E. Anderson, Bradenton, Fla., assignor to V. E. Anderson Manufacturing Company, Bradenton, Fla., a corporation of Kentucky Application February 28, 1955, Serial No. 490,884

9 Claims. (Cl. 189-46) The invention relates to metallic door constructions and the invention consists in the construction which in its general features is similar to that forming the subject matter of my pending application for patent, Serial No. 477,357, filed December 23, 1954. However, the instant invention has improved features of construction which simplifies the same, lessens the cost and has other advantages, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of the door containing the novel features of construction.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section corresponding to a portion of Fig. 2 slightly modified in construction.

One feature of the construction which is in common with that of the above mentioned application for patent is that the stiles of the door are formed from extruded members of generally U-shaped cross section and some of the cross members have their end portions extending into the open side of the U forming a reinforcement therefor. The openings in the frame formed by the spaced stiles and spaced cross members may be closed by various constructions. Thus, a jalousie closure may be used if so desired, and the frame thereof may be mounted in an upper opening between the stiles and cross members as shown and described in my earlier construction. Also, the lower openings may be closed by different constructions, and one construction for this purpose is a feature of the instant application. A further improved feature of construction is the adjustable member at the bottom of the door for fitting it to the sill or threshold.

As illustrated, A is one of the stiles of the door (the other being similar in construction but not shown) and such stile A is of generally U-shaped cross section having an edge portion A and side portions A The inner surfaces of the side portions A have integral bearing strips A of restricted width for direct engagement with the cross members. As specifically illustrated, the door is adapted to receive a jalousie in its upper portion, but as this is. the same in construction as in my pending application for patent, it is unnecessary to either completely illustrate or describe the same. All that is shown is the bottom cross bar or rail B of the jalousie frame with a small portion of the side rail J, the latter being secured to the stiles by any suitable means (not shown). At the bottom of the door is a cross bar or rail C which includes a portion C of inverted U cross section, which extends the full width of the door, including the stiles. This portion C has a transverse Width less than the internal dimension between the sides A of the stiles for a purpose that will be later described. At the lower edges of this portion C are outwardly projecting flanges C having grooves C in their upper faces. These grooves C are adapted to receive the lower edges of sheet metal panel members D and D, the combined thickness of which supplements the width of the portion C so that such 2,823,772 Patented Feb. 18, 1958 ice panel members D and D and portion C may fit within the stiles. The panel members D and D are on the outer sides of the cross bar C and engage the bearing strips A of the stiles. The bottom rail B of the jalousie frame has spaced grooves B on the underside thereof adapted to receive the upper edges of the sheet metal panel members D and D. The inner sides of the grooves B have downward extensions or flanges B and B that reinforce and form bearings for the inner faces of said sheet metal panel members D and D.

With the construction thus far described it will be understood that the space defined by the stiles A, the bottom rail B of the jalousie frame and the flanges C of the rail C will be completely closed by the sheet metal panel members D and D. These sheet metal panel members D and D will be retained in position by engagement with the grooves C and B, as well as by the portion C and the flanges B and B In fact, the end portions of the cross bar C cooperate with opposite sides A of the stiles to clamp and hold said panel members 11) and D against displacement from said grooves B and C In this connection, it is to be noted that the sheet metal panel members D and D extend into the stiles for the full width of the sides A of the stiles. To further reinforce these sheet metal panel members, the member C has above the portion C a pair of upstanding side portions C and C and a horizontal cross portion C at the upper edge of the side portion C and terminating in a depending flange C". The side portion C is much shorter than the side portion C and is in vertical alignment with the flange C The side portion C bears against the panel member D and cooperates with one side portion A of the stile to clamp and hold the panel member I), while the side portion C bears against the panel member D and cooperates with the other side portion A of the stile to clamp and hold the panel member D. The member C, including the portions C to C thereof, may be formed by extrusion and as there are no portions completely closing a space therewithin, the manufacturing cost will be less than with hollow constructions having completely enclosed spaces. The outerexposed faces of the sheet metal panel members D and D may be finished in any desired way to improve the appearance of the door.

As above stated, another feature of .my improvement is an adjustable member at the bottom of the door for fitting it to the sill or threshold. Heretofore inserts have been placed in the bottom rails of the door to be adjustable for the same purpose, but the adjustment means therefor usually requires slots for movement of the clamping screws. With my constructionthis is unnecessary. In detail, E is a vertically adjustable upwardly opening channel-shaped member of U-shaped cross section fitting within the inverted U of the portion C. The lower end or cross portion E of the member E is provided with any suitable means, such as the L-shaped flange E for holding a weather sealing strip F for engagement with a cooperating flange H of a sill or threshold H. The sides E of the member E have at their ends inturned flanges E which leave an open slot therebetween. Adjacent to these flanges and within the sides E is a polygonal nut or clamping member G which is engaged. by a screw G. The head G of this screw is located in a countersunk recess in the cross portion A of the stile so as to be fixed in position but rotatable. Thus, by turning the head of this screw the nut G will be clamped against the flanges E to hold the member E in any position of vertical adjustment within the member C. ing means is used for the end of the member E engaging the opposite stile, said member will be securely held in any adjusted position.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a door, a pair ofspaced stiles of U-shaped cross As the same clampsection, a cross bar of inverted U cross section at the bottom of the door interfitting with said stiles, a cross member of U-shaped cross section forming an adjustable insert in the aforesaid cross bar extending the length thereof and having at its opposite ends inturned flanges from opposite sides thereof, leaving a slot therebetween, a nut within said cross bar at each end thereof adjacent to said flanges, and a headed screw swivelled in the edge portion of each stile and extending through an adjacent slot, each screw engaging an adjacent nut and forming therewith a clamping means for holding said insert in adjusted position.

2. A door formed of extruded hollow bars cut to predetermined lengths and sheet metal panel members, said extruded bars including spaced stiles of U-shaped cross section and spaced transverse members having end portions fitting within said stiles with clearance therebetween for receiving portions of said sheet metal panel members, said panel members covering opposite sides of one of said transverse members and closing an area between said stiles and spaced transverse members.

3. A metal door structure comprising spaced inwardly opening channel-shaped upright stiles, upper and lower substantially horizontal cross bars extending between said stiles and cooperating therewith to define an opening, said upper cross bar being provided on the underside thereof with spaced downwardly opening grooves, said lower cross bar being provided adjacent the lower edge thereof with outwardly projecting flanges, each of said flanges having an upwardly opening groove therein, spaced sheet metal panel members covering and substantially concealing opposite sides of said lower cross bar and closing the opening aforesaid, the upper edges of said panel members engaging said downwardly opening grooves, the lower edges of said panel members engaging said upwardly opening grooves, opposite end portions of said panel members extending into said channel-shaped stiles, and opposite end portions of said lower cross bar extending into said channel-shaped stiles between the end portions of said panel members and having portions cooperating with opposite sides of said stiles to clamp and hold the end portions of said panel members, so that said panel members will be held against displacement from said grooves.

4. A metal door structure comprising spaced inwardly opening channel-shaped upright stiles, upper and lower substantially horizontal cross bars extending between said stiles and cooperating therewith to define an opening, said upper cross bar being provided on the underside thereof with spaced downwardly opening grooves, said lower cross bar being provided adjacent the lower edge thereof with outwardly projecting flanges, each of said flanges having an upwardly opening groove therein, spaced sheet metal panel members covering and substantially concealing opposite sides of said lower cross bar and c1osing the opening aforesaid, the upper edges of said panel members engaging said downwardly opening grooves, the lower edges of said panel members engaging said upwardly opening grooves, opposite end portions of said panel members extending into said channel-shaped stiles, and opposite end portions of said lower cross bar extending into said channel-shaped stiles between the end portions of said panel members and having U-shaped portions engaging the inner surfaces of said panel members and cooperating with. opposite sides of said stiles to clamp and hold the end portions of said panel members, so that said panel members will be held against displacement from said grooves, the inner sides of said downwardly opening grooves having downward extensions constituting bearing flanges having surface-to-surface engagement withthe inner sides of and reinforcing said panel members.

5. A metal door structure comprising spaced inwardly opening channel-shaped upright stiles, upper and lower substantially horizontal cross'bars extending between said stiles, said upper cross bar being intermediate the upper and lower ends of said stiles and constituting a sill for an opening, said upper cross bar being provided on the underside thereof with spaced downwardly opening grooves, said lower cross bar being at the lower ends of said stiles and provided at the lower edge thereof with outwardly projecting flanges, each of said flanges having an upwardly opening groove therein, spaced sheet metal panel members covering and substantially concealing opposite sides of said lower cross bar and closing the space defined by said stiles, said upper cross bar and said outwardly projecting flanges, the upper edges of said panel members engaging said downwardly opening grooves, the lower edges of said panel members engaging said upwardly opening grooves, opposite end portions of said panel members extending into said channel-shaped stiles, and opposite end portions of said lower cross bar extending into said channel-shaped stiles between the end portions of said panel members and having portions cooperating with opposite sides of said stiles to clamp and hold the end portions of said panel members, so that said panel members will be held against displacement from said grooves.

6. A metal door structure comprising spaced inwardly opening channel-shaped upright stiles, upper and lower substantially horizontal cross bars extending between said stiles, said upper cross bar being intermediate the upper and lower ends ofsaid stiles and constituting a sill for an opening, said upper cross bar being provided on the underside thereof with spaced downwardly opening grooves, said lower cross bar being at the lower ends of said stiles and provided throughout its lower edge with a downwardly opening portion of inverted U-cross section, opposite sides of said downwardly opening portion being provided at their lower edges with outwardly projecting flanges, each of said flanges having an upwardly opening groove therein, spaced sheet metal panel members covering and substantially concealing opposite sides of said lower cross bar and closing the space defined by said stiles, said upper cross bar and said outwardly projecting flanges, the upper edges of said panel members engaging said downwardly opening grooves, the lower edges of said panel members engaging said upwardly opening grooves,

the outer sides of the grooves in said flanges engaging and forming seats for the lower ends of opposite sides of said stiles, opposite end portions of said panel members extending into said channel-shaped stiles, and opposite end portions of said lower cross bar extending into said channel-shaped stiles between the end portions of said panel members and having portions cooperating with opposite sides of said stiles to clamp and hold the end portions of said panel members, so that said panel members will be held against displacement from said grooves.

7. A metal door structure comprising spaced inwardly opening channel-shaped upright stiles, a substantially horizontal cross bar extending between and having opposite end portions thereof fitting within said channel-shaped stiles at the lower ends thereof, said cross bar being pro-l vided throughout its lower edge with a downwardly opening portion of inverted U-cross section, an adjustable upwardly opening channel-shaped member of U-shaped cross section fitting within and cooperating with said downwardly opening portion to form a substantially boxlike reinforcement for said cross bar, the lower edge of said cross bar being at the lower ends of said stiles, the base of said channel-shaped member being at the lower edge of said cross bar and having means for holding a Weatherstrip engageable with a threshold, opposite sides of said channel member being provided at opposite ends thereof with inturned flanges disposed in opposed spaced apart relation and providing vertical slots therebetween, nuts within said channel-shaped member at opposite ends thereof upon the inner sides of said opposed inturned es and bridging said vertical slots, and means for holding said channel-shaped member. in adjusted position relative to :said threshold, including screws swivelled in the outer edges of said stiles, extending through said vertical slots and threadedly engaging said nuts.

8. A metal door structure comprising spaced inwardly opening channel-shaped upright stiles, a substantially horizontal cross bar extending between and having opposite end portions thereof fitting within said channel-shaped stiles at the lower ends thereof, said cross bar being provided throughout its lower edge with a downwardly opening portion of inverted U-cross section, an adjustable upwardly opening channel-shaped member of U-shaped cross section fitting within and cooperating with said downwardly opening portion to form a substantially boxlike reinforcement for said cross bar, the lower edge of said cross bar being at the lower ends of said stiles, the base of said channel-shaped member being at the lower edge of said cross bar and having means for holding a Weatherstrip engageable with a threshold, opposite ends of said channel-shaped member being provided with vertically extending slots, clamping members within said channel-shaped member and bridging said slots, and means for holding said channel-shaped member in adjusted position relative to said threshold, including means swivelled in the outer edges of said stiles, extending through said vertical slots and engaging said clamping members.

9. A metal door structure comprising spaced inwardly opening channel-shaped upright stiles, a substantially horizontal cross bar extending between and having opposite end portions thereof fitting within said channel-shaped stiles at the lower ends thereof, said cross bar being provided throughout its lower edge with a downwardly opening portion, an adjustable upwardly opening channelshaped member fitting Within said downwardly opening portion, the base or" said channel-shaped member having means for holding a Weatherstrip engageable with a threshold, opposite ends of said channel-shaped member being provided with vertically extending slots, clamping members within said channel-shaped member and bridging said slots, and means for holding said channel-shaped member in adjusted position relative to said threshold, including means swivelled in the outer edges of said stiles, extending through said vertical slots and engaging said clamping members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,143,245 Abrahams June 15, 1915 2,567,357 Turner Sept. 11, 1951 2,692,664 Ternes Oct. 26, 1954 2,761,532 Colombini Sept. 4, 1956 

